Prompt 1: Symbolism

The Handmaid’s Tale, written by Margaret Atwood, tells the story of Gilead, a dictatorial society that has replaced the United States. The theocratic government has divided the citizens by status, such as the Eyes, the Angels, Commanders, Wives, Handmaid’s, Martha’s, etc. Because Gilead suffers from low birth rates, the government has taken complete control of reproduction, and now Handmaid’s are assigned to high-ranking couples (Commanders and Wives) that are unable to conceive. Basically, Handmaid’s are youthful women with the fertile ability necessary for reproduction. They are subjected to have intercourse with their assigned Commander in order to produce offspring to help Gilead’s slumping fertility rates. Clothing is used to distinguish the citizens’ ranks, and Handmaid’s are made to dress in red, a color that is a frequent symbol throughout this novel.

Atwood uses the color red to symbolize many aspects, one of which being fertility. The basic interpretation of red is blood, and in this book, the color is used to represent the menstrual cycle and also the blood that flows for the new life of a human being. At a certain point during a Handmaid’s menstrual cycle, the Commander must have sex with her in order for her to have a higher chance of conceiving. Of all the households in Gilead, there is only one pregnancy that occurs, which shows the weakness of this government’s oppression.

Outside of Gilead, there is a war going on, which further implies the color red for blood. The fact that there is a war suggests that Gilead’s government is not the supreme ruler of the world, and it’s theocracy is conflicted by other countries. This gives the citizens of Gilead hope, which also shows how red symbolizes a new life.

This hope is only a dream out of reach for Gilead, though, and so red also symbolizes death, in this case, it is the death of the Handmaid’s moral and ethical rights and choices. The government of Gilead claims that this new way of life is safer for women because no one is allowed to roam the streets without a reason to, and there is no chance a woman could be attacked and raped, for example. But the irony in this belief is that Handmaid’s technically undergo forced sex since they are ultimately, unwilling. Although religious aspects are clearly shown throughout this book, (names such as Angels, Gilead, etc.) what should be a wholesome marriage between one woman and one man, the “theocratic” government of Gilead has destroyed this purity with its use of Handmaid’s.